Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who has been proposed as the new foreign minister of Iran, said the country favors constructive negotiations provided that the other sides honor their commitments and avoid wasting time.

In a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu, held in Tehran on Monday, Amir Abdollahian expressed Iran’s readiness for constructive talks.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes constructive talks coupled with tangible outcomes resulting from honoring all of commitments and avoiding a waste of time,” the proposed foreign minister stated, as quoted by Tasnim news agency.

He also highlighted the new Iranian administration’s focus on the development of economic ties with Asian countries, saying the current level of trade interaction between Iran and Japan does not match their potential and capabilities.

Amir Abdollahian also expressed hope that adoption of new initiatives would promote cooperation between Tehran and Tokyo in various fields.

For his part, the senior Japanese diplomat said his country attaches significance to the enhancement of relations with Iran as a major country in the Middle East.

Motegi also reiterated Japan’s support for the 2015 nuclear agreement, calling for commitment to the international deal by all parties.

The nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was reached between Iran and six world powers, including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China in 2015. However, the deal was ditched by former US President Donald Trump in 2018 in spite of Iran’s full compliance with its contractual obligations.

Since April, the remaining signatories to the JCPOA have been holding face-to-face talks in the Austrian capital aimed at bringing the US back to compliance and putting the deal back on track.

Source: Iranian media